News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-09-29
MISS RHETT MYRON'S STORY.
A Baby's Picture, a Soldiers Death
GOverness's Romance,

The death of Col. w. r. Smith, which
took place in New York few weeks ago.
has brought to light very remarkable
incident. Miss Rhett Myron, the prin
clpal figure i'll the drama, is personal
friend of your correspondent, and from
her the following facts have been OBJ
tanned, with permission for their publ
cation. Hayne Myron, the father OF
this young lady, was planter in South
Carolina. His home was a typical
Southern home, spacious and hospitable,
surrounded by broad acres and faithful
slaves His family consisted of his wife
and Rhett, who was then little child
At the breaking out of the war, in the
fall of 1861, Hayne Myron joined a vol
unteer South Caroline regiment Before
leaving home he had picture of his lit
tie girl painted in miniature, and en-
cased itin a locket that he placed next
to his heart. Six months later, in a
skirmish in Virginia, Hayne Myron was
killed, in close combat, by n Federal
officer. Only few words were sent to
the old home to tell the sad story.
During Gen. Sherman's invasion into
South Carolina the MyrOn homestead
was destroyed. The widow and daugh-
ter continued to live on the plantation
in an outbuilding, supported by the
rents from the lands. Two years ago
Mrs. Myron died, and through the infu-
ence Of friends Miss Myron obtained a
position as gOyerness in the family of
Col. W. r. Smith of New York. She
stated to me that her first meeting with
Col. Smith was peculiar. That when
his wife introduced her to him, SAYING,
'This is our new gOverness from South
Carolina, Miss Rhett Myron," his face
became deathly white, and he gave a
sudden start. He WAS absent from home
when Mrs. Smith engaged her He
mechanically shook hands with her and
tried to speak, but his lips seemed sealed.
But later his manner changed to kind
ness and cOrdiality, and she was treated
more as an honored guest than a salaried
teacher. He insisted on paying her
four times the amount she charged for
her services, and made her duties light.
One evening she was sitting in the fam
lily circle, telling of her past life down
in South Carolina, of the spacious house
with its twenty columns, Of the dusky
slaves, who used to sit her on their
shoulders, calling her their ''little
queen" as they carried her through the
cotton fields that looked like seas of
snow foam. For the first time she spoke
of her father, how handsome and sad he
looked as he went away on that dreadful
last day; how he took her picture with
him, and told all he said. She states
that she was forced stop in the midst of
her words, for Col. Smith turned CHASTITY
pale and left the room. Miss Myron
continued to live with Col. Smith, fam
lily for two years.
'It was a haven and home to me, " she
said. 81 had 50 long toiled and worked
on our plantation, isolated from society
and all advantages, it was like q fairy
life had opened to me of ease and luXrI-
ry, but my heart was almost breaking,
as [ remembered all that 1 had lost in
those sad sweet days"
Six weeks ago Col. Smith was taken
suddenly i'll, and when he realized that
death was inevitable he expressed a de-
sire 20 see Miss NvrOn aloue She states
that as she neared the bed OF the dying
man, she saw him holding something
in one hand, as he extended
the other to her and exclimed:
''Rhett Myron, forgive me before L
die; without your pardon l cannot die;
come close and listen to what have to
tell you. It was [ who made you an
orphan; my hands are red with your
fathers blood. Take this" he said,
me the package: 81 found it
on his dying breast. 1t is your face;
your name and his name are upon it,
Take it, and forgive one who has tried
to expatiate the wrongs done you. Oh
can you forgive dying man." and the
voice became faint and low.
ooh sir, you both were soldiers; [
freely forgive, and the poor girl could
say no more, as she fell unconscious
upon the floor.
''Thank God" he murmured, and all
was over.
When Rhett Myron recovered, the
man who had killed her father, and who |
was later the best friend she ever knew,
was dead. In his will, he bequeathed to |
her the generous sum of $4,000. He |
also left & letter giving all the particu-
ars of her fathers death. Only few |
lays ago l saw the picture-a sweet |
child face, III an azure cloud, and on the |
little plush case were marks of blood.